The Monkey in the Middle

Can you believe I've blogged two days in a row!?!?!


I wanted to speak briefly about my new role with the Transcona & District Pipe Band. Only to clarify a few facts and hopefully shut some foolish people up.

A few months back I got a phone call from my mother telling me that Dave Stewart had called her looking for me to call him. So I did. That's where this all started.

Dave let me know that they had been searching for a replacement for their drumming instructor Ian Aastrom who had to vacate the post due to work, and other life commitments. He asked me for advice. He had exhausted all resources and knowing how busy I was wanted to know if any of my guys would donate their time or work something out with them.

I told him I would find a solution to keep Transcona operating. That's all. After speaking with a couple guys, and my wife at great length, I decided that the opportunity to work with Ryan, and become another part of Transcona's storied history was very very important to me.

I called Dave and spoke with him about the possibility of changing band nights (they practice Tuesdays) so I could help out. I live 3 blocks from where they practice, and it seems like a great fit.

This did up my involvement significantly. I am now directly involved in the writing and instruction of 3 juvenile drum corps in the prairies. Two River's, 96th Highlanders, and now Transcona. This is all piled in with my duties as Grade 2 lead drummer at Saspb.

I should stress, Dave and Transcona put the call out for months looking for a replacement before they called me. I didn't call them.

So imagine my surprise when I find out that, though there was some great pats on the back from many this Saturday at our first contest, there were also some people who felt it their duty to go to the parents of Transcona and describe me as a band jumper, a schemer, and that I was only looking to dissolve Transcona into St. Andrew's and destroy their band and their history.

I'd like anyone who reads this to think of anyone who might say these things, then go find them, and set them straight. There's a monkey in the middle of this and I would appreciate them flinging their crap at themselves.

I have suggested to Two River's that they amalgamate with Transcona. We have a great group of kids, good instructors, and a good thing going, but we're struggling to recruit as well and it would serve the community to have a stronger Transcona Pipe Band. They have taken it under advisement and nothing will be discussed until the new season. At no point do I care to dissolve Transcona, destroy the history I'm so invested in, or hurt this band in anyway.

I answered a call no one else would.

I would appreciate anyone having a problem with that speaking to me personally.

I've spoken at length as to why I was involved in starting Two River's. When I did that no one believed I was capable of teaching, but I had a lot to offer and I wanted to teach. That's it. Nothing malicious. So get over it.

I've adopted a very positive attitude this season towards the pipe band community and I refuse to let the back door smack talking of certain individuals harm my positive attitude. I'm only asking those that know me to stand up for me, you know who I am, and what I'm about. I want to have a million snare drummers running around this province and I don't care what kilt they have on.


Cheers

Sean